Monday, September 12, 2016
A Que No Me Dejas (AQNMD) #1. Monday September 12, 2016. GRAN ESTRENO: When The Sea Hits Your Eye Like A Big Starfish Pie, That's Amore!
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| Paulina and Adrián our starfish lovers |
At a glance
-- Paulina Murat and Adrián Olmedo are madly in love but a whole lotta crazy stands in the way of their happiness.
-- The Murat, Olmedo, Fonseca, Córdova and Almonte families are interlinked in one intricate web of passion, hatred, jealousy, obsession, secrets, lies and intrigues that will get unraveled as Paulina and Adrián struggle to protect their love.
-- The Murat, Olmedo, Fonseca, Córdova and Almonte families are interlinked in one intricate web of passion, hatred, jealousy, obsession, secrets, lies and intrigues that will get unraveled as Paulina and Adrián struggle to protect their love.
A closer look
A few years ago, on an idyllic deserted beach in the state of Quintana Roo, Mexico, Paulina Murat and Adrián Olmedo profess their undying love for each other. Adrián gives her a starfish medallion necklace and recounts how the starfish came to exist. A poor fisherman fell in love with a princess, but her affections vacillated between him and a wealthy man who offered to lay his entire fortune at her feet. The fisherman asked Poseidon, the God of the Sea, for help. Poseidon reached for the stars in the sky, gathered them all and deposited them at the bottom of the sea, so that the fisherman can offer them to his beloved. “And since then, the starfish have protected and perpetuated true love.” concludes Adrián. “True love like ours!” adds Paulina. From a short distance, beautiful green eyes, green with ugly envy, glare daggers at the smooching couple. They belong to Paulina’s older sister, Nuria Murat.
The residence of the Murat family is a palatial mansion, surrounded by luscious garden virescence and looking over the dazzling turquoise waters of the Caribbean Sea. Inside, Inés Murat, Paulina and Nuria’s mother, is overseeing the final preparations for the party that will be hosted tonight in Casa Murat.
Upstairs, Nuria swings by Paulina’s room just to whine that she can’t wait for her little sister to graduate (recibirse) already! Because all their mom does is obsess over Paulina’s graduation and Paulina’s graduation party! Paulina retorts that she, at least, has completed her degree. Unlike her older sister, Nuria, who entered university a year before Paulina and still hasn’t finished to this day. Nuria says she is at university to distract herself and hang out with her hanger-ons friends. That’s the advantage of having a rich father who never says no to anything she asks. Paulina thinks Nuria had better drop out (darse de baja) if she is not interested in pursuing a university degree, instead of letting their father throw money out the window. That’s not fair even if he has boatloads of it! Nuria cries out that she won’t allow Paulina or anyone to dictate her life. Only she has the right to choose how to lead her life. She also contends that she is entitled to fight for what belongs to her, even if Paulina wants to steal it. Paulina asks Nuria to clarify that last point. Nuria accuses Paulina of stealing Adrián from her. However, Nuria is no longer prepared to let her sister keep her man-toy. Adrián is hers because she saw him first! Paulina corrects her: Adrián was never interested in her! He is Nuria’s ex-teacher, that’s the extent of their relationship! On the other hand, Paulina met him at a party over a year ago and they have been inseparable ever since! That’s 3 in a row. Advantage Paulina. Nuria accuses her little sister of always turning things around to suit herself. “I told you I liked him and you didn’t care!” whines the overgrown brat. “You told me this AFTER I started dating Adrián and the relationship got serious!” rectifies Paulina. “You always want everything for yourself! You are incapable of thinking of others!” whines Nuria. “Look who’s talking!” retorts Paulina. “You always say that I took grandma’s attention from you, when she was still alive, that I monopolized our parents’ love, and now [you accuse me of stealing] your galán?! Get over yourself already! Better do something productive [if you want] to be happy. You do know that one creates one’s own destiny, right?” Game, set, match, Paulina. The overgrown brat gets brattier: “We’ll see how the fate you’re creating will end, hermanita!” threatens Nuria. Paulina ignores her and heads out the door. She has to sit her professional exam, the final requirement to complete her degree. Nuria is left fuming. She picks up a picture frame from Paulina’s nightstand and violently hurls it away. We hear the shattering sound before the frame hits the floor. She smashed it with the heat-vision of her burning hatred.
Adrián is at a jewelry store, buying an engagement ring for Paulina. His brother-in-law, Jaime Córdova, is with him. Adrián plans on asking Paulina to marry him at the party that her family is organizing tonight to celebrate her graduation. “Don’t you think it’s risky to do this today and in the house of your in-laws?” asks Jaime. Adrián figures the risk that Paulina’s dad would say No is the same today and everyday. However, Gonzalo Murat won’t do it in front of guests. He cares too much about what others think of him and he wouldn’t want to lose face in front of everybody. “If my suegro/father-in-law rejects me, I won’t give up. I don’t have the money or the social status they have, but I am a hard worker. I will eventually grow and I will give Paulina everything she deserves, everything she has grown accustomed to having, and more!” assures Adrián. Jaime has witnessed his determination first-hand. Since Adrián quit his teaching job and started working in Jaime’s agency full time, he hasn’t taken a single day off! Adrián believes this is the time for working hard and saving money. He’s eager to get married. The brothers-in-law share a complicit fist-bump. “My suegro has to realize that I am prepared to do anything for his daughter’s sake. Nobody loves her as much as I do or would make her happy like I would. I adore her!” Jaime wishes him good luck and not only with Gonzalo Murat, but also with his sister, Julieta, Jaime’s wife. Adrián is sure his older sister, Julieta, will not accept his engagement to Paulina, the way she refused to accept his other girlfriends. “I am determined! There is no way... Not even if the world is against us! Paulina and I are going to end up together. Listen, I can feel it right here!” asserts Adrián pointing to his heart. Adrián finally spots the engagement ring he wants to buy. Hallelujah! The poor sales girl can finally go on her ciggie break!
Back at Casa Murat, Paulina says goodbye to her mother, who tells her how proud she is that her daughter is now a licenciada/degree-holder in tourism. She gives Paulina la bendición/blessing and wishes her good luck on her viva voce. Paulina confesses she is nervous about tonight’s party. Adrián’s family is coming over for the first time and Paulina is afraid her dad will be rude to them. Inés assures her that Gonzalo knows how to behave in a civil manner. Paulina thanks her mom for supporting her relationship with Adrián. A distant relative, Édgar Almonte, is announced. He is accompanied by his housekeeper, Chelo, and his little 5-year-old boy, an adorable blond cherub named Mauricio. The cute munchkin jumps in Paulina’s arms and plays with her hair. Insert an unlimited amount of Awww, bless! This kid is too precious for words! He is killing me with cuteness! OK, I’ll stop now. Back to the show. Little Mauricio is deaf. Paulina talks to him using sign language and the boy’s father, Édgar, tells her dismissively that the kid doesn’t understand it. “But he understands the language of love!” maintains Paulina, who seems to share a special bond with the wee lad. He loves her so much that he walks around clutching a photo of her. Inés welcomes Édgar and Chelo again and instructs the Murats’ housekeeper, Micaela, to help the guests settle in the guest bedroom. When Chelo and Micaela are alone in the guest bedroom, we learn that Édgar is an awful boss to Chelo and an awfuler father to poor Mauricio. He can’t stand having a deaf son. Chelo wanted to quit many times but she didn’t have the heart to leave her little niño/boy alone, with nobody to take care of him or show him a small measure of affection. Nuria barges in and exclaims: “Ugh! This spawn again!” Chelo asks her to please refrain from calling her niño that. “I can say whatever I want about him. At the end of the day, he doesn’t even hear!” Oh, no she didn’t! She continues, oozing vitriol: “I can’t stand people who take advantage of others! Édgar comes here to be treated like a king, when in fact, he is nothing but a muerto de hambre/a starving bum!
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| Cuteness overload |
At Secrets Playa Mujeres Golf & Spa Resort, Gonzalo Murat, the hotel’s fictitious owner, talks business with his best friend and business associate, Alfonso Fonseca. Gonzalo plans to buy lands in Playa Alta and build a new resort there. That area will become a major tourist development in a few years and prices will skyrocket. Alfonso agrees: This is a great opportunity because there is nothing in Playa Alta at the moment. Besides, Gonzalo has always had a great flair for business. Alfonso says he’ll check the finances of their consortium and purchase the lands ASAP. Gonzalo is glad to have a partner like Alfonso, someone who believes in him and doesn’t contradict his ideas. In short, Gonzalo likes a Yes Man. Alfonso believes that each one of them is good in his area and together they make a great team. “And we’ll make a greater one if our children were to get married!” says Gonzalo. It appears that Alfonso’s son, Camilo Fonseca, returns home today. He has just finished his Masters degree in New York and he’s back home to settle down and head the finance department of the consortium his father and Gonzalo Murat own. He and Paulina used to date, and now that Camilo is back, they can pick up right where they left off, thinks Gonzalo. Alfonso would love that to happen but it’s been years since the kids broke up and Paulina has a new boyfriend now. Gonzalo doesn’t see a future in that relationship. Paulina is out of Adrián’s league. Gonzalo wants his daughter to marry someone who can afford to give her the same privileged lifestyle she enjoys as at Casa Murat. Alfonso reminds him that it’s up to Paulina to decide whether Adrián is a suitable romantic partner or not. Nevertheless, Gonzalo thinks he can influence his daughter’s decision. Paulina and Camilo broke up before the latter was due to move abroad for his studies. Now that he is back, they can rekindle their romance, linking the Murats to the Fonsecas by marriage.
Julieta Olmedo de Córdova, Adrián Olmedo’s sister and Jaime Córdova’s wife is at home, admiring her brother’s closet. Maybe she was hanging his clean shirts there and figured it was perfectly alright to linger in the closet, inhaling his aroma with a beatific smile on her face. Because that’s not creepy at all. She finds a piece of paper that Paulina had written for Adrián, where she tells him how much she loves and misses him. Julieta gets twitchy mad and tears the letter up. Aaand we have another crazy sister in Dejaslandia!
Raquel de Fonseca, Alfonso Fonseca’s wife is at the airport to pick up her son. She is carrying a piece of paper that reads “Licenciado Camilo”. He jumps from behind the mountain of bags he carries in his trolley, startling his mother. Well, hello Licenciado Camilo! Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes? The mother-son encounter is a jubilant one. Raquel is happy her only son is back home, hopefully for good this time? Camilo confirms that he plans to settle down here for good. She tells him about the party the Murat family is organizing tonight in honor of Paulina. Camilo asks if Paulina is still as beautiful as he remembers her. “She is more beautiful every day!” says Raquel. More welcome home hugs.
Paulina passes her oral exam and graduates with honors. As an ex-teacher at this university, Adrián pulled a few strings and managed to enter the lecture hall right after her closed-door viva voce ended. He congratulates her and hands her a jewelry box with a bracelet inside. “I never tire of telling you that I love you. My Lic.! (Lic. is the abbreviation of Licenciado/a)”. He kisses her then puts the bracelet on her wrist while she reads the note that accompanies her gift: “I like loving you like this. Slowly and madly. Timelessly and spaciously. Till we are both eternal and passion converts us into one entity.” He tells her he wants to be with her always. At every moment. The simplest moments and the important ones. “I love having you in my life!” she coos. More kisses.
At Casa Córdova, Jaime Córdova asks his wife, Julieta, if she is sure she doesn’t want to accompany her brother to the party at Casa Murat tonight. She says she doesn’t want to be an accomplice of the madness her brother is about to commit by getting involved with “that woman”, i.e. Paulina Murat. “If you don’t go, Julieta, Adrián won’t forgive you. It is very important to him that you go to the party!” “What ought to be more important to him is my opinion. That woman will be his perdition! Mark my words: His perdition!” “How can you assert this if you’ve never even had any contact with her? Once you get to know her, you’ll realize that she is a lovely young woman.” “She can’t be! She is the daughter of a social climber (un trepador social), a wretched man who won’t stop at anything to conserve his wealth!” Julieta adds that she’d rather die than give in to that family. And Adrián as well ought to stay away from them. Jaime reminds her that Adrián is a grown man, that he is head-over-heels in love with Paulina and that he has the right to live his life with whomever he pleases. Jaime recalls that she has never accepted any of Adrián’s old girlfriends but he notices that she is particularly cruel (ensañarse con) to Paulina. It’s because Paulina, more than all the others, does not deserve Adrián’s love. Jaime warns Julieta that the unhealthy (enfermizo) and selfish love she feels for Adrián will end up driving her little brother away. “Never! He will always be with me!” she protests. OK, this is really creepy! Why isn’t Jaime freaking out? Instead he advises her to go to the Murats’ party tonight, if she does not want to lose Adrián. Jaime leaves for the agency. He tries to kiss his wife goodbye but she pulls away. It is worth noting that Julieta has been nervously twitching and rubbing her wrists against her sides throughout this exchange. I’m no Doctor Phil but I think the nervous stimming and the aversion to physical contact indicate some form of OCD, coupled with Asperger’s Syndrome perhaps, and a huuuge dollop of good ol’ crazy.
Paulina asks Adrián if his sister, Julieta, is coming to the party tonight. He replies he doesn’t know: “But don’t let that affect you! Jaime and I will be there.” Paulina doesn’t understand why Julieta rejects her when she doesn’t even know her.
At Casa Murat, Édgar is sprawled over the minibar, downing drinks like a sailor on leave. Little Mauricio is sitting under an ornamental table, playing with a flower. Nuria walks in, Édgar greets her affably but she replies with a disdainful look. Before leaving, she makes a scary grimace at Little Mauricio, who runs towards his father. Édgar yells at the little boy to stop bothering him with his presence and roughly shoves him under the table, ordering him to sit still.
Inés Murat is in the kitchen with Micaela, the housekeeper, going over the list of drinks that will be served at the party. That’s if Édgar leaves any liquor in the house. Nuria walks in and complains that Paulina’s graduation has put everyone and everything in the house upside down. Now they are even expected to put up with that slacker (zángano), Édgar, and his deaf spawn. Inés gently asks her to please refrain from talking about Édgar and Mauricio this way. She also assures her that the day she graduates, everyone will be scrambling over each other to organize a splendid celebration for her. “No thanks, Mamá! I don’t like to attract the limelight like my little sister. She loves applause and recognition but I, in turn, don’t!” “This isn’t true, darling, and you know it!” protests Inés. “I don’t know why I waste time speaking with you, Mamá! You only have eyes for Paulina!” Nuria stomps out of the kitchen after managing to make her mother feel guilty. Inés wonders what was her error. What did she do wrong for so much envy to grow in Nuria’s heart towards her little sister? Micaela, the housekeeper, assures her that she always treated Nuria and Paulina equally and Micaela can testify to it in all these years that she has worked for the Murat family. Inés feels awful about this situation. She doesn’t know what to do to make her girls get along.
At Casa Fonseca, Camilo tells him mom, Raquel, that he wants to give Paulina a surprise tonight. He can’t wait to see her. He’s never felt the same about anybody else. Raquel is surprised by this revelation, because when Camilo and Paulina were dating, she always got the impression that Paulina was more in love with him than he with her. Camilo feels that the distance made him realize it was his fear of commitment that made him break up with Paulina. He was about to leave for a long stay abroad to pursue his studies and he wanted a clean break. However, with time, he came to see things more clearly. Raquel tells him not to get his hopes up about a possible reconciliation. Paulina has had a boyfriend for over a year and, according to Raquel’s comadre/close friend, Inés Murat, it is very serious. So serious that there maybe wedding bells soon.
Adrián accompanies Paulina home and promises to take her to the boutique of her friend Karen after he says hello to Mauricio. The second Paulina leaves to go look for the little boy, Nuria shows up to sexually harass Adrián. She tells him he should ditch her sister and hook up with her. She is a better woman than Paulina and she’ll show him by forcefully shoving her viperine tongue down his throat. He pushes her away and tells her he adores her sister and could never love any other woman. He also forbids Nuria to get close to him in this fashion again! Because if she doesn’t respect her sister, he does! Unbeknownst to them, Paulina witnessed this entire scene and was pleased to see that her man is definitely a keeper. Nuria calls Adrián an idiot and brags about all the men who are dying for her to deign to throw a glance their way. She also threatens him that rejecting her is the biggest mistake of his life. He tells her not to threaten him. She says this is a warning, not a threat, and she stomps away in a huff. Paulina comes back. She tells Adrián she saw everything and she now loves him more than ever. Smoocheroos. They sit in the garden for a wee bit while they wait for Mauricio. Adrián is glad Paulina knows how much he loves her and what he is prepared to do for her sake. Paulina wishes Nuria would understand this as well and quit being a nuisance. Paulina is tired of her sister’s shenanigans and her insistence to pursue Adrián. Adrián reckons Nuria is jealous of her sister because she sees how amazing Paulina is, how her inside beauty shines through her. This makes Nuria very jealous but, in the end, this is Nuria’s problem not Paulina’s. Until Nuria fixes her issues, Paulina can’t do anything to change the dynamics of their tense relationship. “Isn’t it funny that both our sisters oppose our relationship?” wonders Paulina. Well, not funny-ha-ha, but rather funny-how-we-both-have-looney-sisters. Mauricio comes in to say hello. Adrián tells him how much he loves him. Little Mauricio makes a heart sign and mimics a hug to tell Adrián that the feeling is mutual. Inés arrives and warmly greets Adrián.
In her room, Nuria cusses her sister out. ¡Maldita! ¡Mil veces maldita! Darn you a thousand times, Paulina! She then gives her mirror a self-satisfied smile, grabs her handbag and heads out the door. The heinous heffer has a plan.
Édgar visits Gonzalo at work. The latter is not pleased to see him and asks what he’s doing there. Édgar says he is on a visit to attend Paulina’s party and he wanted to pop in to Gonzalo’s office to say howdy. Well, to say howdy AND inform Gonzalo he was fired AND tell him he can’t pay his rent AND ask for money. Gonzalo reckons this is to be expected since Édgar’s alcoholism makes him spend what he doesn’t have. Édgar protests: “Don’t judge me! You haven’t walked a mile in my shoes. Things haven’t been easy since the death of my wife, Olivia. If only she hadn’t insisted so much on getting pregnant! She would still be alive today and I wouldn’t be stuck with a deaf son!” Gonzalo is getting testy: “I’m going to ask you to do me two favors: Firstly, don’t speak of Mauricio this way in front of me; and secondly, don’t play the victim! Olivia has been dead for 5 years. You should’ve gotten over her death already and taken care of your son como Dios manda/properly!” Édgar whines he hasn’t been able to do so. He hands Gonzalo a piece of paper with a number on it. That’s the amount of money he needs Gonzalo to “loan” him. Gonzalo is adamant Édgar won’t get another cent from him. Édgar affirms that Gonzalo owes him everything he has. In the past, Gonzalo used Édgar’s money and the money of other business associates, to invest in the stock market, only to lose it all in one go. Actually, Édgar and the rest of the partners were the only ones to lose any dough in this business venture because Gonzalo didn’t. Gonzalo protests that he too lost a bundle in that deal, except that unlike his business partners, he didn’t put all his eggs in the same basket, he diversified his investments! Then, thanks to his efforts, he managed to multiply his fortune. Édgar doesn’t buy this cock-and-bull story and that’s why he asks, nay, demands, that Gonzalo lend him any sum of money he requests, in exchange for his silence and his selective amnesia. Gonzalo violently grabs Édgar by the lapels and tells him that, if he wants to receive the figure written in that little piece of paper, he would have to earn it: “I’m going to give you a job in one of my hotels and I’m going to pay you very well. But you will have to perform all your duties because I won’t give you a single cent of my money as a gift! You understand me, right? You decide: Either you take it or you get the heck out of here!” Édgar nods dutifully: He takes it.
Nuria barges in Casa Fonseca then into Camilo’s room unannounced. He was just coming out of the shower, in all his shirtless yumminess, bless historso heart. Nuria acts pleased to see Camilo but he reads right through her. He reminds her how she couldn’t stand him when he was dating her sister and how delighted she was to see them break up. Nuria insists she has changed. She wants Camilo back in her sister’s life. If he is still in love with Paulina, then he must know that Paulina is still in love with him too. She is only dating her current boyfriend to try and get over Camilo. His departure abroad was really hard on her.
Paulina is at the boutique owned by her best friend, Karen Rangel. She confides to her how Nuria threw herself at Adrián earlier. The outraged Karen calls Nuria a disgusting ho (una zorra asquerosa). The entire Patio nods in unison. “Sorry for saying this about your sister, but she really is a disgusting ho! She has no limits!” insists Karen. Paulina doesn’t understand her sister’s behavior. However, she is pleased that Adrián defended her and made her feel loved, valued and respected. “Aww! That’s because Adrián is a stand-up guy and a principled person (ser de una sola pieza), just like you! That’s why the two of you need to be together, even if many people want to separate you!” Karen adds that, as far as she is concerned, Nuria’s supposed love for Adrián is just a fabrication.
It’s evening time at Casa Murat. Nuria is dressed and ready for the party. She enters Paulina’s room, asking to borrow her nail polish, because Nuria left hers uncovered (destapado) for too long and it dried up. Paulina is coiffed and made up but she is still in her bathrobe. She gives her sister nail polish colors to choose from. Then, she shows her the broken frame (which contains a photo of Paulina and Adrián) and asks her why she broke it. Nuria denies it: “You’re crazy, I didn’t do anything!” “Are you also going to deny the fact that you kissed Adrián and he rejected you? Understand something: This (the photo frame) is the only thing you will destroy of my relationship with Adrián! And if you’re going to do something, at least have the courage to admit it and don’t hide like a coward!” Nuria just rolls her eyes: “¡Ay, Paulina!”
Downstairs, guests start arriving. Gonzalo welcomes the Fonseca family and thanks them for the gift they brought Paulina. Gonzalo tells Raquel and Alfonso that both the Fonseca couple and the Murat couple have “spectacular children”! Obviously, he was talking about Paulina. Because the only spectacular thing about Nuria is how spectacular it is that nobody glued her trap shut by now! Raquel fawns over her “extraordinary son”. She can’t wait for him to settle down and give her grandchildren. Wouldn’t Inés and Gonzalo like that too? Gonzalo is all up for the settling-down part but he thinks he is too young to be called Grandpa.
Back in Paulina’s room, Nuria changes the subject to the dress sprawled on Paulina’s bed: “Is this the dress that your naca/tacky friend Karen made for you?” Nuria thinks it is underwhelming to say the least. Paulina disagrees. She holds the dress up against her body to show how beautiful it is, and that vitchy vitch Nuria pours nail polish on it, accidentally on purpose! She starts fake-apologizing: She says she didn’t mean to stain (manchar) Paulina’s dress, that it was all an accident, bla bla bla. The sisters get into a screaming match. Inés intervenes and scolds Nuria: “What is wrong with you? Why do you always have to ruin your sister’s things? If you don’t stain her dress, you lose her sweater, or you mess up (echar a perder) her swimsuit... Why? Why are you like this?” Nuria starts snivelling: She is the way she is because Paulina has always ruined her life. Nuria is sick of being the villain while Paulina is the goody-two-shoes. All the best is reserved for Paulina and Nuria gets nothing. “Hija, please! You know things aren’t like this!” pleads Inés. “Of course, this is true! Ever since she was born, you and Dad have only had eyes for Paulina! Therefore, if someone is guilty here, it is you (Inés and Gonzalo). Because you never treated us equally, even though we are both your daughters!”. Oh, boo-freakin-hoo!
Adrián, his sister, Julieta, and his brother-in-law, Jaime, show up at Casa Murat and receive a cold but civil welcome from Gonzalo. Raquel introduces her son Camilo to Adrián.
Thankfully, Karen carries some new dresses, that she had ordered for her boutique, in the boot of her car. She offers to bring them over right away for Paulina to pick a new dress to attend the party with.
Gonzalo spots Édgar downing tequilas at the party. His angry stare shoots daggers at the drunkard’s back.
Paulina is received with applause and congratulations. Adrián thanks Julieta for coming and prompts her to greet Paulina. She says she’ll do it later because Paulina appears busy talking to her guests right now.
A young man (the actor who played Lorenzo in “Yago”) is seen whispering something to Paulina. It turns out that he told her someone needed to speak to her urgently. She heads to the study and finds Camilo there. She is pleasantly surprised to see him. He tells her she looks radiant and happy. “I am ! I am very happy!” she gushes. “I don’t know how I was able to leave you. Now, I’m more certain than ever that you are the woman of my life!” he declares, handing her the red rose he’d been holding. She dismisses this grand declaration as pure flattery. He denies he is being a flatterer (un adulador) and asks her to let him congratulate her properly. They hug. Meanwhile, Nuria made sure she notified Adrián that Paulina is missing from the party. Surely she is the one who nudged him towards the study room because the Adrián magically appears, just in time to witness his novia in a full body embrace with a handsome stranger. Paulina introduces Camilo but Adrián says they have already been introduced. Paulina adds that Camilo returned from New York today and he was congratulating her a moment ago. “Ah really? You brought her all the way here to congratulate her?” Camilo replies that he wanted to surprise her. Paulina tells him Adrián is her novio. “Yes, I know. You are a very lucky man!” says Camilo, checking Paulina out to emphasize his point. “I really am, aren’t I?” retorts Adrián. Paulina tries to diffuse the tension by asking Adrián to accompany her back to the party. She leaves the study but Adrián doesn’t follow right away. He walks up to Camilo and calmly says: “I don’t want to have problems, but you gotta understand that finding the two of you like that was...” He completes his thought with a grimace that says: “Not cool, bro! Not cool!” “Look, if you don’t get close like that again to my girlfriend, you and I are not gonna have any problems. OK?” Camilo gives him a forced smile and a pat on the shoulder but he doesn’t explicitly agree. “Good! Let’s go back to the party!” says Adrián. “Yes, let’s!” After Adrián leaves, Camilo looks mildly exasperated. He has that “Who does this idiot think he is?” expression. On his way out of the study, Camilo finds Nuria waiting by the door and scolds her for giving him false hopes about Paulina. “You lied to me! You are still the same schemer (intrigosa) you always were!”
Back at the party, Paulina wonders why Adrián got jealous. He couldn’t help it; no man wants to see his girl in the arms of her ex. Paulina says Camilo was her ex a long time ago. “Yes, I know. But where there was fire, ashes remain (Donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan)!” Paulina assures him that he is the only man she loves and he knows it. Adrián’s doubts are dissipated by a sweet smoocheroo from his beloved.
Gonzalo proposes a toast for his daughter. Adrián swoops in and formally asks Mr. and Mrs. Murat for their daughter’s hand in marriage. Everyone is happy and/or excited and/or pleasantly surprised, except for Gonzalo, Camilo, Nuria and Julieta. Adrián gets down on one knee and asks Paulina to marry him. Before she could answer, Julieta starts yelling: “No! No! No! You can’t do this, Adrián! You’d have to kill me first before I allow you to marry the daughter of our father’s murderer!” That went well, didn’t it?
A quote from the capítulo
“Estoy decidido. No hay manera... ¡Ni aunque el mundo se oponga! Paulina y yo vamos a terminar juntos. ¡Escúchame, lo siento aquí!”*
*Adrián is adamant that he and Paulina are endgame: “I am determined. There is no way... Not even if the world is against us! Paulina and I are going to end up together. Listen, I can feel it right here!”
Your viewing vocabulario
(these definitions are context-specific, unless otherwise indicated)
recibirse = to graduate.
darse de baja = to drop out. Also means to unsubscribe.
un(a) trepador(a) social = a social climber.
ensañarse con alguien = to be particularly cruel or merciless with someone.
enfermizo(a) = unhealthy, sick. Can also be used to mean perverted.
un zángano = a slacker, a lazybones.
como Dios manda = the proper way, as God intended.
una zorra asquerosa = a disgusting ho.
ser de una sola pieza = Lit. “To be of one piece”, meaning to be a principled person.
destapado(a) = uncovered, without the lid on.
manchar = to stain.
echar a perder = to mess up, to spoil, to ruin.
un adulador = a flatterer, a cajoler.
intrigoso(a) = a schemer.
Donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan = Where there was fire, ashes remain. Old flames die hard.
Thank you for visiting our patio. Please join us again to follow the next capítulo. We’ll be saving you a seat!
Nuria barges in Casa Fonseca then into Camilo’s room unannounced. He was just coming out of the shower, in all his shirtless yumminess, bless his
Paulina is at the boutique owned by her best friend, Karen Rangel. She confides to her how Nuria threw herself at Adrián earlier. The outraged Karen calls Nuria a disgusting ho (una zorra asquerosa). The entire Patio nods in unison. “Sorry for saying this about your sister, but she really is a disgusting ho! She has no limits!” insists Karen. Paulina doesn’t understand her sister’s behavior. However, she is pleased that Adrián defended her and made her feel loved, valued and respected. “Aww! That’s because Adrián is a stand-up guy and a principled person (ser de una sola pieza), just like you! That’s why the two of you need to be together, even if many people want to separate you!” Karen adds that, as far as she is concerned, Nuria’s supposed love for Adrián is just a fabrication.
It’s evening time at Casa Murat. Nuria is dressed and ready for the party. She enters Paulina’s room, asking to borrow her nail polish, because Nuria left hers uncovered (destapado) for too long and it dried up. Paulina is coiffed and made up but she is still in her bathrobe. She gives her sister nail polish colors to choose from. Then, she shows her the broken frame (which contains a photo of Paulina and Adrián) and asks her why she broke it. Nuria denies it: “You’re crazy, I didn’t do anything!” “Are you also going to deny the fact that you kissed Adrián and he rejected you? Understand something: This (the photo frame) is the only thing you will destroy of my relationship with Adrián! And if you’re going to do something, at least have the courage to admit it and don’t hide like a coward!” Nuria just rolls her eyes: “¡Ay, Paulina!”
Downstairs, guests start arriving. Gonzalo welcomes the Fonseca family and thanks them for the gift they brought Paulina. Gonzalo tells Raquel and Alfonso that both the Fonseca couple and the Murat couple have “spectacular children”! Obviously, he was talking about Paulina. Because the only spectacular thing about Nuria is how spectacular it is that nobody glued her trap shut by now! Raquel fawns over her “extraordinary son”. She can’t wait for him to settle down and give her grandchildren. Wouldn’t Inés and Gonzalo like that too? Gonzalo is all up for the settling-down part but he thinks he is too young to be called Grandpa.
Back in Paulina’s room, Nuria changes the subject to the dress sprawled on Paulina’s bed: “Is this the dress that your naca/tacky friend Karen made for you?” Nuria thinks it is underwhelming to say the least. Paulina disagrees. She holds the dress up against her body to show how beautiful it is, and that vitchy vitch Nuria pours nail polish on it, accidentally on purpose! She starts fake-apologizing: She says she didn’t mean to stain (manchar) Paulina’s dress, that it was all an accident, bla bla bla. The sisters get into a screaming match. Inés intervenes and scolds Nuria: “What is wrong with you? Why do you always have to ruin your sister’s things? If you don’t stain her dress, you lose her sweater, or you mess up (echar a perder) her swimsuit... Why? Why are you like this?” Nuria starts snivelling: She is the way she is because Paulina has always ruined her life. Nuria is sick of being the villain while Paulina is the goody-two-shoes. All the best is reserved for Paulina and Nuria gets nothing. “Hija, please! You know things aren’t like this!” pleads Inés. “Of course, this is true! Ever since she was born, you and Dad have only had eyes for Paulina! Therefore, if someone is guilty here, it is you (Inés and Gonzalo). Because you never treated us equally, even though we are both your daughters!”. Oh, boo-freakin-hoo!
Adrián, his sister, Julieta, and his brother-in-law, Jaime, show up at Casa Murat and receive a cold but civil welcome from Gonzalo. Raquel introduces her son Camilo to Adrián.
Thankfully, Karen carries some new dresses, that she had ordered for her boutique, in the boot of her car. She offers to bring them over right away for Paulina to pick a new dress to attend the party with.
Gonzalo spots Édgar downing tequilas at the party. His angry stare shoots daggers at the drunkard’s back.
Paulina is received with applause and congratulations. Adrián thanks Julieta for coming and prompts her to greet Paulina. She says she’ll do it later because Paulina appears busy talking to her guests right now.
A young man (the actor who played Lorenzo in “Yago”) is seen whispering something to Paulina. It turns out that he told her someone needed to speak to her urgently. She heads to the study and finds Camilo there. She is pleasantly surprised to see him. He tells her she looks radiant and happy. “I am ! I am very happy!” she gushes. “I don’t know how I was able to leave you. Now, I’m more certain than ever that you are the woman of my life!” he declares, handing her the red rose he’d been holding. She dismisses this grand declaration as pure flattery. He denies he is being a flatterer (un adulador) and asks her to let him congratulate her properly. They hug. Meanwhile, Nuria made sure she notified Adrián that Paulina is missing from the party. Surely she is the one who nudged him towards the study room because the Adrián magically appears, just in time to witness his novia in a full body embrace with a handsome stranger. Paulina introduces Camilo but Adrián says they have already been introduced. Paulina adds that Camilo returned from New York today and he was congratulating her a moment ago. “Ah really? You brought her all the way here to congratulate her?” Camilo replies that he wanted to surprise her. Paulina tells him Adrián is her novio. “Yes, I know. You are a very lucky man!” says Camilo, checking Paulina out to emphasize his point. “I really am, aren’t I?” retorts Adrián. Paulina tries to diffuse the tension by asking Adrián to accompany her back to the party. She leaves the study but Adrián doesn’t follow right away. He walks up to Camilo and calmly says: “I don’t want to have problems, but you gotta understand that finding the two of you like that was...” He completes his thought with a grimace that says: “Not cool, bro! Not cool!” “Look, if you don’t get close like that again to my girlfriend, you and I are not gonna have any problems. OK?” Camilo gives him a forced smile and a pat on the shoulder but he doesn’t explicitly agree. “Good! Let’s go back to the party!” says Adrián. “Yes, let’s!” After Adrián leaves, Camilo looks mildly exasperated. He has that “Who does this idiot think he is?” expression. On his way out of the study, Camilo finds Nuria waiting by the door and scolds her for giving him false hopes about Paulina. “You lied to me! You are still the same schemer (intrigosa) you always were!”
Back at the party, Paulina wonders why Adrián got jealous. He couldn’t help it; no man wants to see his girl in the arms of her ex. Paulina says Camilo was her ex a long time ago. “Yes, I know. But where there was fire, ashes remain (Donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan)!” Paulina assures him that he is the only man she loves and he knows it. Adrián’s doubts are dissipated by a sweet smoocheroo from his beloved.
Gonzalo proposes a toast for his daughter. Adrián swoops in and formally asks Mr. and Mrs. Murat for their daughter’s hand in marriage. Everyone is happy and/or excited and/or pleasantly surprised, except for Gonzalo, Camilo, Nuria and Julieta. Adrián gets down on one knee and asks Paulina to marry him. Before she could answer, Julieta starts yelling: “No! No! No! You can’t do this, Adrián! You’d have to kill me first before I allow you to marry the daughter of our father’s murderer!” That went well, didn’t it?
A quote from the capítulo
“Estoy decidido. No hay manera... ¡Ni aunque el mundo se oponga! Paulina y yo vamos a terminar juntos. ¡Escúchame, lo siento aquí!”*
*Adrián is adamant that he and Paulina are endgame: “I am determined. There is no way... Not even if the world is against us! Paulina and I are going to end up together. Listen, I can feel it right here!”
Your viewing vocabulario
(these definitions are context-specific, unless otherwise indicated)
recibirse = to graduate.
darse de baja = to drop out. Also means to unsubscribe.
un(a) trepador(a) social = a social climber.
ensañarse con alguien = to be particularly cruel or merciless with someone.
enfermizo(a) = unhealthy, sick. Can also be used to mean perverted.
un zángano = a slacker, a lazybones.
como Dios manda = the proper way, as God intended.
una zorra asquerosa = a disgusting ho.
ser de una sola pieza = Lit. “To be of one piece”, meaning to be a principled person.
destapado(a) = uncovered, without the lid on.
manchar = to stain.
echar a perder = to mess up, to spoil, to ruin.
un adulador = a flatterer, a cajoler.
intrigoso(a) = a schemer.
Donde hubo fuego, cenizas quedan = Where there was fire, ashes remain. Old flames die hard.
Thank you for visiting our patio. Please join us again to follow the next capítulo. We’ll be saving you a seat!
Labels: dejas
Comments:
Hello everyone and welcome to the AQNMD Patio! This was ready to be published two hours ago, except that friggin' Blogger decided to make half my recap disappear and mess up the formatting of the other half. Thank goodness I save my work in a separate document or else I would've broken my laptop from maddening frustration! Anyhoo, sorry about the tardiness and the Blogger drama.
This was an interesting first episode. Loved all the actors, except Alejandra Barros (Julieta) who needs to bring it down a notch or ten. Loved the protagonist couple, Leti and Arturo (Inés and Gonzalo), that most adorable child, Mauricio and that most handsome man, Camilo. The scenery was exquisite and the ladies' wardrobe was lovely (color palettes for the various characters), the entrada was great. I enjoyed the various details that were revealed to us and that promise to be the catalysts of interesting plotlines. On the other hand, I hated, absolutely hated the editing. Awful! Just awful! Very choppy and haphazard. That's why I did some creative editing of my own and combined scenes in the recap.
Enjoy the discussion. Catch you tomorrow. Good night :)
UA, you're absolutely right! 'Tis the season of crazy sisters! I just finished watching "Lazos de Amor" (the original of TVA) a month ago, I started "El Color de la Pasión" last week and now this! Yep, as you said, glad I don't have a sister!
"Gonzalo seems like he's usually smart but not entirely snow white" So true! Gonzalo for me is the one to watch, and not just because Arturo Peniche is a boss. Peniche has also managed to convey to us that this successful haughty confident man hides something that makes him scared and/or insecure. I also found his defense of little Mauricio very touching. I look forward to watching this character reveal himself to us little by little.
Stevey, thank you for your encouragement of this patio and recap team. I enjoyed reading your comparison of how actors chose to portray these odious sisters in the old and new version of this TN. I look forward to reading a comparison of both shows after the finale airs. I'm sure the entire patio will appreciate you taking the time to prepare this treat for us after the gran final.
Countx, "Gonzi Scheme" is hilarious! We don't exactly know what happened but Édgar's accusations suggest that Gonzalo's fortune was built thanks to the money he scammed off his ex-business partners. Gonzalo seemed pretty unsettled by Édgar's threats to talk about the past, so maybe Édgar isn't just some drunkard talking rubbish.
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Hello everyone and welcome to the AQNMD Patio! This was ready to be published two hours ago, except that friggin' Blogger decided to make half my recap disappear and mess up the formatting of the other half. Thank goodness I save my work in a separate document or else I would've broken my laptop from maddening frustration! Anyhoo, sorry about the tardiness and the Blogger drama.
This was an interesting first episode. Loved all the actors, except Alejandra Barros (Julieta) who needs to bring it down a notch or ten. Loved the protagonist couple, Leti and Arturo (Inés and Gonzalo), that most adorable child, Mauricio and that most handsome man, Camilo. The scenery was exquisite and the ladies' wardrobe was lovely (color palettes for the various characters), the entrada was great. I enjoyed the various details that were revealed to us and that promise to be the catalysts of interesting plotlines. On the other hand, I hated, absolutely hated the editing. Awful! Just awful! Very choppy and haphazard. That's why I did some creative editing of my own and combined scenes in the recap.
Enjoy the discussion. Catch you tomorrow. Good night :)
One last thing, if you encounter a Gustavo in the recap, don't worry about it. There is no Gustavo in this story. For some reason, my brain refused to accept Arturo Peniche's character name: Gonzalo. I kept calling him Gustavo. I hope I corrected them all. I'll check for typos tomorrow. Night! :)
Thank you for getting the ball rolling for us Nandicta for what promises to be a fun ride!
One question is Edgar supposed to be Gonzalo's brother in law? Maybe I missed something but their relationship wasn't really clear.
Three things I loved right off the bat: Paulina is a career woman, Adrian and Paulina know people are trying to separate them and Paulina fully knows her sisters a Vitch!
I didn't mind the editing so much but Alejandra Barros needs to take down her body language a bit. She was grinding her teeth and couching around scratching her hands and it was not very good. I don't know why directors always tell the actor to have a nervous tick to portray psychosis. It's not always like that. Her facial expressions were fine as was her tone of voice.
Man does Gonzalo have a lot of dirt on his closets and his family is non the wiser. Wonder what they'll do now that Julieta dropped that bomb shell.
One question is Edgar supposed to be Gonzalo's brother in law? Maybe I missed something but their relationship wasn't really clear.
Three things I loved right off the bat: Paulina is a career woman, Adrian and Paulina know people are trying to separate them and Paulina fully knows her sisters a Vitch!
I didn't mind the editing so much but Alejandra Barros needs to take down her body language a bit. She was grinding her teeth and couching around scratching her hands and it was not very good. I don't know why directors always tell the actor to have a nervous tick to portray psychosis. It's not always like that. Her facial expressions were fine as was her tone of voice.
Man does Gonzalo have a lot of dirt on his closets and his family is non the wiser. Wonder what they'll do now that Julieta dropped that bomb shell.
Permalink posted by 
: Monday, September 12, 2016 at 11:49:00 PM EDT
: Monday, September 12, 2016 at 11:49:00 PM EDT
One final thing: Camila Sodi really surprised me. I went into thos thinking I'd be bothered by her acting but it was actually really good. That her Paulina fits her personality really well.
Permalink posted by : Monday, September 12, 2016 at 11:52:00 PM EDT
: Monday, September 12, 2016 at 11:52:00 PM EDT
Gracias, Nandicta. Great estreno recap.
Why in hell isn't this on in prime time? It's got a top-notch cast, great sets and locations, etc... or is it going to go places that aren't suitable for kids, like the two prime ones I'm watching?
This is certainly a season for insane and perverted sisters. I totally agree that Alejandra Barros needs to dial it back a bit. She was over the top in this episode. I don't suppose anyone is going to catch her sniffing her brother's shirts anytime soon.
And it's a surprise to see Letcia Calderon not playing crazy this time.
Gonzalo seems like he's usually smart but not entirely snow white. I'm not buying that he's responsible for the death of Julieta's father but I'm sure there is something a little shady in his past.
Maybe more tomorrow. Need to catch some z's.
Why in hell isn't this on in prime time? It's got a top-notch cast, great sets and locations, etc... or is it going to go places that aren't suitable for kids, like the two prime ones I'm watching?
This is certainly a season for insane and perverted sisters. I totally agree that Alejandra Barros needs to dial it back a bit. She was over the top in this episode. I don't suppose anyone is going to catch her sniffing her brother's shirts anytime soon.
And it's a surprise to see Letcia Calderon not playing crazy this time.
Gonzalo seems like he's usually smart but not entirely snow white. I'm not buying that he's responsible for the death of Julieta's father but I'm sure there is something a little shady in his past.
Maybe more tomorrow. Need to catch some z's.
One final thing: I was presently surprised by Camila Sodis acting. I came into this expecting to hate it but I ended up loving Paulina. Maybe Paulina just suits her personality really well.
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 12:02:00 AM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 12:02:00 AM EDT
Nandicta, what a terrific recap, as all of yours are. But what a perfect way (and from the perfect person) to start out this exciting novela. We all owe you a debt of thanks for almost single-handedly being the one to form this patio and get it going, and I am thrilled that you've managed to acquire a little team of re-cappers. I would like to thank them all in advance, and look forward to reliving this all with you. I'm pretty sure you're all really going to love it!
Re-living the first episode through you, I was immediately reminded of some of the more striking differences between this and the original. For starters with some of the characters.... as we can already glean from the first episode, Laura Carmine's Nuria Murat is a seething cauldron of hatred and bitterness with an utterly black heart, a much more intense and extreme character from the character in the original, Elvira Montsell's Paola (who was just a jealous little bitch that you wanted to slap). In this way, Paola in the original was almost completely upstaged by Margarita Sanz's majestically unhinged Mercedes. Interestingly, as you have already noted, Alejandra Barros's Julieta here is- like Nuria- made into a more intense and extreme character than the one in the original, but here, comparatively, it doesn't really work as well as the original (albeit, thanks to Sra. Sanz, this is the highest bar imaginable). The way the character is drawn (thanks to the genius of writers Eric Vonn & Liliana Abud), is brilliant enough that nothing really extreme is necessary on the part of the actress, and this is what made Sra. Sanz's Mercedes so effective- her intensity is was more subtle, and all the more chilling because of it. Alejandra Barros, as you have already noted, with her twitches and ticks, makes the character more over-the-top, but with a character like this it becomes almost too much. I find it interesting that for the awards that were given out each of the years that these novelas aired, the award for best villain changed characters- Margarita Sanz won for her portrayal of Mercedes, whereas Laura Carmine won last year for her role as Nuria. I can't help but wonder if this might be for the reasons which I just mentioned. Sra. Barros still does a valiant job, though, but it really is a gift of a role for any actress to sink her teeth into. I just can't help but wonder how various actresses might have played the role, and I'd be curious to ask, once it's all over, any casting changes the patio might have made, most especially in the role of Julieta.
But it's a great story, and a really dynamic retelling of it. I think (and hope!) that you'll all love it. It doesn't have the subtlety of the original- and I hope to perhaps share comparative scenes from the original with you as events come to pass so that you can see what I mean (if I can find them, that is)- but it's DEFINITELY much more exciting. While the original may be the classic that it is, the remake I believe is more thrilling, and you certainly will never be bored.
Thanks for getting us started, Nandicta! Best wishes to everybody!! :-)
Re-living the first episode through you, I was immediately reminded of some of the more striking differences between this and the original. For starters with some of the characters.... as we can already glean from the first episode, Laura Carmine's Nuria Murat is a seething cauldron of hatred and bitterness with an utterly black heart, a much more intense and extreme character from the character in the original, Elvira Montsell's Paola (who was just a jealous little bitch that you wanted to slap). In this way, Paola in the original was almost completely upstaged by Margarita Sanz's majestically unhinged Mercedes. Interestingly, as you have already noted, Alejandra Barros's Julieta here is- like Nuria- made into a more intense and extreme character than the one in the original, but here, comparatively, it doesn't really work as well as the original (albeit, thanks to Sra. Sanz, this is the highest bar imaginable). The way the character is drawn (thanks to the genius of writers Eric Vonn & Liliana Abud), is brilliant enough that nothing really extreme is necessary on the part of the actress, and this is what made Sra. Sanz's Mercedes so effective- her intensity is was more subtle, and all the more chilling because of it. Alejandra Barros, as you have already noted, with her twitches and ticks, makes the character more over-the-top, but with a character like this it becomes almost too much. I find it interesting that for the awards that were given out each of the years that these novelas aired, the award for best villain changed characters- Margarita Sanz won for her portrayal of Mercedes, whereas Laura Carmine won last year for her role as Nuria. I can't help but wonder if this might be for the reasons which I just mentioned. Sra. Barros still does a valiant job, though, but it really is a gift of a role for any actress to sink her teeth into. I just can't help but wonder how various actresses might have played the role, and I'd be curious to ask, once it's all over, any casting changes the patio might have made, most especially in the role of Julieta.
But it's a great story, and a really dynamic retelling of it. I think (and hope!) that you'll all love it. It doesn't have the subtlety of the original- and I hope to perhaps share comparative scenes from the original with you as events come to pass so that you can see what I mean (if I can find them, that is)- but it's DEFINITELY much more exciting. While the original may be the classic that it is, the remake I believe is more thrilling, and you certainly will never be bored.
Thanks for getting us started, Nandicta! Best wishes to everybody!! :-)
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 4:23:00 AM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 4:23:00 AM EDT
Gracias Nandicta!
From what i remember Gonzy Ponzi is a skunk but I find Edgar to be much worse. I rooted for Gonzy Scheme in his scenes against Fleadgar. I wonder what secrets Gonzy Scheme hides from us?!
I kind of support Nuria than Paulina. It may be the actor that makes Paulina look like a schoolgirl twat.
The acting in this one is quite powerful though but I didnt like Ale Barros much even though that my love for her is absolute!
I wonder how in the Seven Gonzy Schemes Adrian&Jaime manage to put up with Foolieta without blowing their blueball brains out.
From what i remember Gonzy Ponzi is a skunk but I find Edgar to be much worse. I rooted for Gonzy Scheme in his scenes against Fleadgar. I wonder what secrets Gonzy Scheme hides from us?!
I kind of support Nuria than Paulina. It may be the actor that makes Paulina look like a schoolgirl twat.
The acting in this one is quite powerful though but I didnt like Ale Barros much even though that my love for her is absolute!
I wonder how in the Seven Gonzy Schemes Adrian&Jaime manage to put up with Foolieta without blowing their blueball brains out.
Count, I'm very interested in seeing how Julieta and Jaime got together. She seems to have been over the top for a while.
Then again I assume her father died a long time ago but maybe it wasnt that long ago and they were married when w.e. happened happened and hes just learned to love wth it.
Then again I assume her father died a long time ago but maybe it wasnt that long ago and they were married when w.e. happened happened and hes just learned to love wth it.
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 6:18:00 AM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 6:18:00 AM EDT
Thanks for the recap!
I agree that Julieta's character is somewhat like a Disney witch and then you don't go to a party if you are going to be hiding creepily behind your brother or husband so no one can see you. MOre than mad about Gonzalo killing her father looks like she loves Adrián.
And speaking of torsos, after seeing Cristián de la Fuente's in SdA, I thought Camilo's looked more like a chubby teenager. Anyway, after Nuria got into the room, I was expecting the towel drop any minute (never happened), jajaja!
I agree that Julieta's character is somewhat like a Disney witch and then you don't go to a party if you are going to be hiding creepily behind your brother or husband so no one can see you. MOre than mad about Gonzalo killing her father looks like she loves Adrián.
And speaking of torsos, after seeing Cristián de la Fuente's in SdA, I thought Camilo's looked more like a chubby teenager. Anyway, after Nuria got into the room, I was expecting the towel drop any minute (never happened), jajaja!
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 6:30:00 AM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 6:30:00 AM EDT
I was also apprehensive because Camila Sodi is the female lead. I had only ever seen her in Inocente di ti where I found her completely irritating. She's 30 now and may have matured enough for characters like Paulina.
It will eventually get to me that we now have three series with nasty sisters. Nuria is doing the same thing as Rebeca and Ana Leticia with trying to take away her sister's boyfriends just because she thinks that makes her The Better Woman. No, dear; it makes you a female dog on steroids. At least Ines has her number about other things and won't fall for her lies about this.
We'll see how long that lasts.
It will eventually get to me that we now have three series with nasty sisters. Nuria is doing the same thing as Rebeca and Ana Leticia with trying to take away her sister's boyfriends just because she thinks that makes her The Better Woman. No, dear; it makes you a female dog on steroids. At least Ines has her number about other things and won't fall for her lies about this.
We'll see how long that lasts.
Nandicta, I won't be joining you on this one but congrats on a great premiere recap. You didn't suffer alone with Blogger last night. It published my recap then unpublished it. Have fun!
Urban, I agree! We had quite some amount of sister plotting last year too, even in Yago(Sara&Ambar), Pasion Y Poder(Daniela&Regina) &El Hotel(Eugenia&Mercedes) but not as much as this year such as Tres Veces Ana( Triplets fun!) , El Color de Pasion & now a double dose of Nuria&Nutcase Julieta. What more could we expect to happen?!
I also liked to see Leticia&Peniche once again. I somehow never get bored of their typecasting as they often play complex characters.
Mau is too cute to be true. It's too bad that he had to grow up with the Fleabag Edgar.
I also liked to see Leticia&Peniche once again. I somehow never get bored of their typecasting as they often play complex characters.
Mau is too cute to be true. It's too bad that he had to grow up with the Fleabag Edgar.
We didn't get all of those at once, but it almost seems that novela heroines either have no sisters or toxic ones. Again, I'm happy to have had none.
Nobody deserves a father like Edgar. That man is a total waste of protoplasm.
However, I find that child actor disturbing. It's not just the absurdly cherubic look; he doesn't seem to have grown since MCET. Back in the days of Shirley Temple and Judy Garland studios did all sorts of abusive things to child actors, including making sure they were underfed so they wouldn't grow at the normal rate.
Nobody deserves a father like Edgar. That man is a total waste of protoplasm.
However, I find that child actor disturbing. It's not just the absurdly cherubic look; he doesn't seem to have grown since MCET. Back in the days of Shirley Temple and Judy Garland studios did all sorts of abusive things to child actors, including making sure they were underfed so they wouldn't grow at the normal rate.
Nandicta- What a treat to read your superb debut recap for this tn. Gracias!
I was glad to have something on the dvr to watch during dinner, and this was a fun distraction. The setting is incredibly beautiful, and there are so many actors I already enjoy from other tns. I have never seen Camila Sodi in anything before. So far I am enjoying her natural look and unaffected acting. I general, I think the actors all need to settle into their roles, which usually does take a few episodes with any tn. Everyone, that is, except Arturo Peniche, who seems very comfortable in this role as a gray character, Gonzalo.
Nice to see Laura Carmine again in all her bad girl glory. Loved the close up of her one hazel/one green eyes, as we were introduced to her burning jealousy for her sister.
Yes, this seems to be the season for jealous, scheming sisters in telenovelaland! A veritable bumper crop of b*tches.
Urban- Remember that this tn was filmed some time ago, not long after Mi Corazon es Tuyo, so this cute little actor was around the same age.
I was glad to have something on the dvr to watch during dinner, and this was a fun distraction. The setting is incredibly beautiful, and there are so many actors I already enjoy from other tns. I have never seen Camila Sodi in anything before. So far I am enjoying her natural look and unaffected acting. I general, I think the actors all need to settle into their roles, which usually does take a few episodes with any tn. Everyone, that is, except Arturo Peniche, who seems very comfortable in this role as a gray character, Gonzalo.
Nice to see Laura Carmine again in all her bad girl glory. Loved the close up of her one hazel/one green eyes, as we were introduced to her burning jealousy for her sister.
Yes, this seems to be the season for jealous, scheming sisters in telenovelaland! A veritable bumper crop of b*tches.
Urban- Remember that this tn was filmed some time ago, not long after Mi Corazon es Tuyo, so this cute little actor was around the same age.
On a side note I changed my mind about Blim. I recently subscribed to it because I thought that it had ALL episodes of the Epoca telenovelas& other hit novelas like Lazos de Amor but some shows are heavily compressed only showing the important scenes alas only 12/16 episodes. I might unsubscribe from it and subscribe to Hulu. I don't like to see the side characters chopped as it robs me from the whole picture. I can't believe how dense Televisa/Univision has become to not capitalize from their best hits.
Count, I heard that was a problem but they were fixing it as time went on.
They still dont have it in the states grrr. Before you unsubribe you should check out Sin Rastro De Ti a mini novela of 16 episodes with Adriana Louvier, Danilo Carerra and Ana Layesvka. Ive been able to catch it on youtube since it was released exclusively through Blim.
They still dont have it in the states grrr. Before you unsubribe you should check out Sin Rastro De Ti a mini novela of 16 episodes with Adriana Louvier, Danilo Carerra and Ana Layesvka. Ive been able to catch it on youtube since it was released exclusively through Blim.
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 11:23:00 AM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 11:23:00 AM EDT
Thanks a thousand, Nandicta.
"Well, to say howdy AND inform Gonzalo he was fired AND tell him he can’t pay his rent AND ask for money. Gonzalo reckons this is to be expected since Édgar’s alcoholism makes him spend what he doesn’t have."
Julieta's scratching and screeching was marvelously over the top. I want to say she's playing Cande from Sombra but off her meds with the braided bun taken down and done Cameron Diaz in Annie style.
"Well, to say howdy AND inform Gonzalo he was fired AND tell him he can’t pay his rent AND ask for money. Gonzalo reckons this is to be expected since Édgar’s alcoholism makes him spend what he doesn’t have."
Julieta's scratching and screeching was marvelously over the top. I want to say she's playing Cande from Sombra but off her meds with the braided bun taken down and done Cameron Diaz in Annie style.
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 12:50:00 PM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 12:50:00 PM EDT
Thank you all for taking the time to read and comment, and for sharing such kind comments and interesting observations. I'm really excited about this novela but watching it with you is what makes it doubly-fun!
Superalfie, I also liked the fact that the protagonists are not clueless. They know what they are up against, although they (and us) are bound to get some surprises along the way.
I thought Camila Sodi as Paulina was an excellent casting decision. She is so fresh! That's the word that first came to my mind when I thought back to the actress and her character. Sodi projected that freshness of youth, that glow of a woman in love, that optimism of someone with a life of possibilities at their feet. Paulina fits her like a glove. And she has wonderful chemistry with everyone.
As regards your question about Édgar, what I deduced from this episode is that he is a distant relative of Gonzalo's. And I don't think that Édgar's wife, Olivia, is Gonzalo's sister, otherwise, in true TN premiere fashion, we would've heard "My sister Olivia" 2 or 3 times in the space of a short conversation. We'll find out more about the nature of their relationship in the coming episodes.
"I'm very interested in seeing how Julieta and Jaime got together." Me too! More than I want to know about who Gonzalo may or may not have scammed or murdered or whatever.
Superalfie, I also liked the fact that the protagonists are not clueless. They know what they are up against, although they (and us) are bound to get some surprises along the way.
I thought Camila Sodi as Paulina was an excellent casting decision. She is so fresh! That's the word that first came to my mind when I thought back to the actress and her character. Sodi projected that freshness of youth, that glow of a woman in love, that optimism of someone with a life of possibilities at their feet. Paulina fits her like a glove. And she has wonderful chemistry with everyone.
As regards your question about Édgar, what I deduced from this episode is that he is a distant relative of Gonzalo's. And I don't think that Édgar's wife, Olivia, is Gonzalo's sister, otherwise, in true TN premiere fashion, we would've heard "My sister Olivia" 2 or 3 times in the space of a short conversation. We'll find out more about the nature of their relationship in the coming episodes.
"I'm very interested in seeing how Julieta and Jaime got together." Me too! More than I want to know about who Gonzalo may or may not have scammed or murdered or whatever.
UA, you're absolutely right! 'Tis the season of crazy sisters! I just finished watching "Lazos de Amor" (the original of TVA) a month ago, I started "El Color de la Pasión" last week and now this! Yep, as you said, glad I don't have a sister!
"Gonzalo seems like he's usually smart but not entirely snow white" So true! Gonzalo for me is the one to watch, and not just because Arturo Peniche is a boss. Peniche has also managed to convey to us that this successful haughty confident man hides something that makes him scared and/or insecure. I also found his defense of little Mauricio very touching. I look forward to watching this character reveal himself to us little by little.
Stevey, thank you for your encouragement of this patio and recap team. I enjoyed reading your comparison of how actors chose to portray these odious sisters in the old and new version of this TN. I look forward to reading a comparison of both shows after the finale airs. I'm sure the entire patio will appreciate you taking the time to prepare this treat for us after the gran final.
Countx, "Gonzi Scheme" is hilarious! We don't exactly know what happened but Édgar's accusations suggest that Gonzalo's fortune was built thanks to the money he scammed off his ex-business partners. Gonzalo seemed pretty unsettled by Édgar's threats to talk about the past, so maybe Édgar isn't just some drunkard talking rubbish.
Pablo, "More than mad about Gonzalo killing her father looks like she loves Adrián." You're right on the money! Her reaction is that of a jealous spurned lover. Ewww and recontra-Ewww!
In my humble opinion, Cristián de la Fuente has gone so over-the-top with his weight routine that he now needs to rotate his upper body a full 180° everytime he takes a step. If he likes himself like that then good on him! Whatever makes him happy! Personally, I prefer Camilo's slightly more cushiony torso to Cris's Ironman torso.
Jarifa, thanks for popping in to say hi and cheer us on! Sorry about your Blogger troubles!
Vivi, "Nice to see Laura Carmine again in all her bad girl glory." To be fair, there were moments in this episode where her acting was off ever so slightly but as you said, actors need a few episodes to settle into their roles. I also remembered that during the first episodes of "Amor Bravío" I thought Laura Carmine was a bit over-the-top and I disliked her acting. However, as the novela progressed, she ended up impressing me. I'm confident the same thing will happen here.
Anon @12:50, Welcome to the AQNMD patio! Please grab a seat and a screen name and join the conversation whenever you feel like it. I'm glad you enjoyed watching the character of Julieta. Perhaps I'll like it better after a few episodes.
In my humble opinion, Cristián de la Fuente has gone so over-the-top with his weight routine that he now needs to rotate his upper body a full 180° everytime he takes a step. If he likes himself like that then good on him! Whatever makes him happy! Personally, I prefer Camilo's slightly more cushiony torso to Cris's Ironman torso.
Jarifa, thanks for popping in to say hi and cheer us on! Sorry about your Blogger troubles!
Vivi, "Nice to see Laura Carmine again in all her bad girl glory." To be fair, there were moments in this episode where her acting was off ever so slightly but as you said, actors need a few episodes to settle into their roles. I also remembered that during the first episodes of "Amor Bravío" I thought Laura Carmine was a bit over-the-top and I disliked her acting. However, as the novela progressed, she ended up impressing me. I'm confident the same thing will happen here.
Anon @12:50, Welcome to the AQNMD patio! Please grab a seat and a screen name and join the conversation whenever you feel like it. I'm glad you enjoyed watching the character of Julieta. Perhaps I'll like it better after a few episodes.
Superalfie, I had to use a VPN since I live in Europe. I merely just subscribed because I heard Sin Rastro was an exclusive( Although it will air on October 31 from what I heard) .I have to say that I like the telenovela especially Ana Layevska which is one of my favorite actresses ( I first caught her in Dos Caras de Ana) .Danilo&Ana are fabolous too.
Regarding Julieta I guess that the situation has been lasting for many years so I am not surprised that Julieta acts way over the top. She seems highly schizophrenic and paranoid. I wouldn't amount that to a simple obsession that can be assisted and cured. Julieta seems to be past the stage in which everyone sees her as a "normal", functional member of society. Although some people( Or the brain itself) can masquarade the illness or don't even know that they have it.
But I am not the doctor here so don't judge me!
Regarding Julieta I guess that the situation has been lasting for many years so I am not surprised that Julieta acts way over the top. She seems highly schizophrenic and paranoid. I wouldn't amount that to a simple obsession that can be assisted and cured. Julieta seems to be past the stage in which everyone sees her as a "normal", functional member of society. Although some people( Or the brain itself) can masquarade the illness or don't even know that they have it.
But I am not the doctor here so don't judge me!
I remember seeing Ana first in El juego de La Vida. Ive missed her on my screen. Did you enjoy LDCDA. I feel not enough people saw it and it was really worth it.
It will eventually be aired on tv but I guess it was more a marketing ploy than anything. Good novela either way.
Idk if we'll get anything formal on Julieta but her husband and brother seem to at least care about her so shes luckier than most.
It will eventually be aired on tv but I guess it was more a marketing ploy than anything. Good novela either way.
Idk if we'll get anything formal on Julieta but her husband and brother seem to at least care about her so shes luckier than most.
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 2:28:00 PM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 2:28:00 PM EDT
Thanks so much Nandicta. As you know, I'm a glutton for your vocabulary and dichos and although I understood "darse de baja" and "recibirse" they're certainly not part of my "active" vocabulary and they are very useful. These are terms that might come up in an everyday conversation about people.
And have always loved the expression "ser de una sola pieza". That image of integrity is so beautiful.
"I’m no Doctor Phil but I think the nervous stimming and the aversion to physical contact indicate some form of OCD, coupled with Asperger’s Syndrome perhaps and a huuuge dollop of good good ol’crazy."
Oh my yes. A huuuge dollop of good good ol' crazy and maybe a touch of the mange as well. Hope her interpretation calms down a little with time.
Feel off-balance, because the fellow playing poor-but-noble-galan, was such a sleazeball in Lo Que La Vida Me Robó. So I'm having a heck of a time seeing him as noble and "de una sola pieza". But all in good time.
Thanks so much. Another riveting recap and very useful Spanish lesson.
And have always loved the expression "ser de una sola pieza". That image of integrity is so beautiful.
"I’m no Doctor Phil but I think the nervous stimming and the aversion to physical contact indicate some form of OCD, coupled with Asperger’s Syndrome perhaps and a huuuge dollop of good good ol’crazy."
Oh my yes. A huuuge dollop of good good ol' crazy and maybe a touch of the mange as well. Hope her interpretation calms down a little with time.
Feel off-balance, because the fellow playing poor-but-noble-galan, was such a sleazeball in Lo Que La Vida Me Robó. So I'm having a heck of a time seeing him as noble and "de una sola pieza". But all in good time.
Thanks so much. Another riveting recap and very useful Spanish lesson.
JudyB, thank you for stopping by, fellow vocabulary glutton! I had never heard "ser de un sola pieza" before, but as you rightly pointed out: "That image of integrity is so beautiful." Glad we could persuade you to watch AQNMD with us.
I caught glimpses of (a grown-up) Osvaldo Benavides in non-TN work and I like him. The only TN role I saw him in is arguably his most famous. Though I suspect he must hate it with a passion. It's his turn as Fernando "Nandito" de la Vega, Fernando Colunga's son in "Maria la del Barrio" and this craaazy scene, that Buzzfeed revisited with a blow-by-blow description here: "This Is The Most Cringeworthy Telenovela Scene Of All-Time" https://www.buzzfeed.com/norbertobriceno/escuincla-babosa?utm_term=.lg0Xo1leq#.vi1Yx2L8l (Don't consult this at work, you won't be able to suppress the loud laughter!)
I caught glimpses of (a grown-up) Osvaldo Benavides in non-TN work and I like him. The only TN role I saw him in is arguably his most famous. Though I suspect he must hate it with a passion. It's his turn as Fernando "Nandito" de la Vega, Fernando Colunga's son in "Maria la del Barrio" and this craaazy scene, that Buzzfeed revisited with a blow-by-blow description here: "This Is The Most Cringeworthy Telenovela Scene Of All-Time" https://www.buzzfeed.com/norbertobriceno/escuincla-babosa?utm_term=.lg0Xo1leq#.vi1Yx2L8l (Don't consult this at work, you won't be able to suppress the loud laughter!)
I did not heed your warning, Nandicta, and had a hell of a time stiffing my laugh in my office. I have seen so many memes of this character, though this was way before my tn watching days. Dios, that was hilarious!
Vivi if you have netflix and time he whole of Maria la del Barrio is on netflix. Its so worth it.
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 4:53:00 PM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 4:53:00 PM EDT
Nandicta! WOW! A million thanks for this absolutely detailed and essential premiere recap! My Spanish ear has gotten rusty and this delightful retelling is just what I needed! I wanted to make sure I read your marvelous recap first before watching the second episode.
Thank you sooooo much!
Thank you sooooo much!
If you think Ossy Benavides was 'bad' in LQLVMR, just try him in Soy tu Fan.
Permalink posted by : Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 8:29:00 PM EDT
: Tuesday, September 13, 2016 at 8:29:00 PM EDT
Wow wow wow! Nandicta take a bow, you've come out swinging once again. Anytime you recap, it's like a master class; we all learn so much. I have to admit to having a bit of trouble with this one, but you clarified so much. I'm sorry you had so much trouble with blogger, hopefully there are no more problems ahead. I agree with Stevey, you're a gem for organizing and putting together this patio. What a dedicated hostess! ((H))
Steve, thank you for stopping by. Glad you're able to join us in this new patio.
Lila, thank you for your lovely comment. I'm glad you found the recap a helpful and enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading your impressions about the show over the course of the months we'll be watching together.
Delilah, you are too kind, my dear. Thank you for the encouragement and for volunteering your time and talent to help recap this show!
To be honest, I had a little trouble with the first episode too because things were not laid down as clearly as they could've been. For instance, I thought at first that little Mauricio was Chelo's son and that his father abandoned them. I also thought that Édgar was either Gonzalo's brother or brother-in-law. Watching the second time around and checking out the following couple of episodes clarified things for me. The first week is usually a little difficult. Hopefully, once we get to know the story better, and with the patio's help, we'll become fully immersed into the universe of Dejaslandia!
Lila, thank you for your lovely comment. I'm glad you found the recap a helpful and enjoyable read. Looking forward to reading your impressions about the show over the course of the months we'll be watching together.
Delilah, you are too kind, my dear. Thank you for the encouragement and for volunteering your time and talent to help recap this show!
To be honest, I had a little trouble with the first episode too because things were not laid down as clearly as they could've been. For instance, I thought at first that little Mauricio was Chelo's son and that his father abandoned them. I also thought that Édgar was either Gonzalo's brother or brother-in-law. Watching the second time around and checking out the following couple of episodes clarified things for me. The first week is usually a little difficult. Hopefully, once we get to know the story better, and with the patio's help, we'll become fully immersed into the universe of Dejaslandia!
Hey fellow patio members may I have a seat on this one? I haven't decided which table to sit at but surely it will not be Julieta's nor Nuria's Yikes! I haven't watch anything since Esclava but I will join in this one.
Thank you Nandicta for this super recap you had me at "hello" You did. Happy to see a lot of folks from other shows.
Romy
Thank you Nandicta for this super recap you had me at "hello" You did. Happy to see a lot of folks from other shows.
Romy
Romy, Welcome back to Caray Caray! So glad you could join us! There are plenty of free seats on this patio for you and anyone who would like to sit with us a spell and dissect these crazy characters. Just take your pick! :)
They are airing Maria La Del Barrio on Univision Tlnovelas if anyone is interested. It stated this Monday September 12th.
Permalink posted by : Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 3:19:00 PM EDT
: Wednesday, September 14, 2016 at 3:19:00 PM EDT
Thanks again Nandicta.
I have decided to take it a bit easy with Telenovelas. I am currently just watching Velvet( A romantic story based in a fashion empire) &Sin Rastro. By the way I like Velvet quite a lot. It's better than most of the shows from Televisa that's for sure although I can't stand the accents( Almost everyone sounds like they ate a bag of cottonballs)
I have decided to take it a bit easy with Telenovelas. I am currently just watching Velvet( A romantic story based in a fashion empire) &Sin Rastro. By the way I like Velvet quite a lot. It's better than most of the shows from Televisa that's for sure although I can't stand the accents( Almost everyone sounds like they ate a bag of cottonballs)
Thanks, Anon@3:19! I wish I had known before to get a recap team assembled. If I had the time I would recap it all alone. It's the poster child for "so bad it's sinfully good"! That show is a must-see for novela lovers everywhere, because it's a reference in TN clichés. Besides, Colunga wears a turquoise speedo in it, as well as plenty of "interesting" 90's fashion and a redonkulous mustache mismatched to his hair color (in the last third of the show). I remember an interview of his where he reminisces about the days of this TN (his first protagonist role). He said he would come home after a day of filming and ask his parents about the episode that aired that day, wondering how he did. "Awful! Just awful, son!" was their answer :D They kept his feet on the ground and gave him an incentive to study and work hard to try to improve his acting. You know what? Let me see if I can move a few things around and maybe post a weekly discussion page with a summary for what went on during the week. Can you imagine a "María la del Barrio" patio? The hilarity would've been off the charts! We need that! Caray Caray, the reference in novela recaps cannot pass up the opportunity to add this TN classic to its arsenal. :)
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